HK carries 3 50cc ARF warbirds right now (Spitfire, AT-6 and T-28). All are 80"+ for wing span and have available air retracts (they look like Robart and Spring Air knock offs). They all look great on line and I've got the AT-6 and retracts and so far she "looks" great. Perfect home for my DLE-55.

Does anyone else have ANY experience with these birds, I would love to know?

02-10-2013, 08:33 AM

kahloq

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

I have the retracts for the 50cc HK spitfire. They are actually very well made with correct angles...quite robust. Im not sure about the at-6 or the t-28, but the spitfire is made by Vantex. Vantex also makes a 50cc fw-190d9. Its the same plane KMP tried to pass of as a new super scale plane they themselves designed and brought to market. Most ppl knew better from the start.

Anyway....a friend of mine bought the spitfire and Ive seen it up close in person. Very well made.....excellent glass work and a lot of stuff is already done right out of the box. The hinges are all "robart" round style heavy duty, all hinge points are predrilled including the rudder/vertical stab. Blind nuts are preinstalled for the plug in wings and the retracts rails are very thick.

I agree on theprice observation. With the saings you can getthe retracts and spinner

02-10-2013, 02:43 PM

scale only 4 me

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

That depends on which,, the Mustang is around $500,, of course the newer Corsair and FW are still pricey,, those will drop soon I bet

It was $120 to ship the at-6 to me when i looked

02-10-2013, 03:52 PM

kahloq

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Fred paid $!25 for shipping. Total price....with my hobbyking discount pricing was $560. Retracts for the spitfire cost 165 including shipping.....no way any topflite plane can match that. Robart are at least twice that.....and the gear includes all the fill valves, air valves, etc.

Looks nice, not particularly a great price though. Seems inline with top flite prices.

Ahhh ..you are talking about a TF 60 size plane right? you really don`t mean the giant size TF planes. If you mean the giant size , please post the link so we could see the TF giant ARF warbird for under $500.

No contest....and if u want the Tf corsair, fw190, or new spitfire....add another $300 to that $1015 for $1300 compared to 730 for the hk spitfire. And btw....having seen the hk version....its a hell of a lot better looking then the Tf and ESM offerings

I have been waiting for the T-28 forever and a day! Hope they soon get it in the USA warehouse!

02-11-2013, 12:10 PM

rcsportflyer26

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Don't forget you get what you pay for. I honestly doubt the HK can come close to TF in quality. Apples to oranges for sure.

02-11-2013, 12:27 PM

vertical grimmace

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Quote:

ORIGINAL: rcsportflyer26

Don't forget you get what you pay for. I honestly doubt the HK can come close to TF in quality. Apples to oranges for sure.

Well, they are all made in China. The thing is, this Spitfire is painted fiberglass. It is apples to oranges. The Topflite stuff is covered in plastic film. Covering more suited for IMACC.

02-11-2013, 12:39 PM

kochj

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

It looks nice from the pictures. I like the hardware (Top flutes are archaic). I would like to know how the hardware in the arc is made out of? Is it TI. Or other? Is the metal soft like most China metal is, or of decent quality?

The other thing to consider is the wings, and did they get the balsa grains in the right direction? Did the reinforce areas that other manufactures have had to go and make stronger, get addressed on this model as well?
Mainly the lander gear attachment mounts?
I am a bit disappointed that some known manufacturers had Never gone back to a current model and made changes that customers had legitimate complaints about!... Not all had issues, but this largely depended on the landing terrain.

I say Bravo HK, as the planes are not copies!. I NEED after purchase support.. If HK could do that, then they could others a run for there money... But when this happens, so does the price increase. As more employees are needed to give this, and so is there a need warehouse space.

02-11-2013, 02:08 PM

kahloq

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Quote:

ORIGINAL: rcsportflyer26

Don't forget you get what you pay for. I honestly doubt the HK can come close to TF in quality. Apples to oranges for sure.

As I have stated already in this thread....I have seen the HK spitfire in person. A club friend bought one and the quality is extremely nice. Its well built, logically designed and strong. There is plenty of room internally to put all of your gear and not have one single item ticking outside the plane...ie switch, fuel dots, whatever.

After seeing the plane, there is no way Id ever buy the TF spitfire nor would I buy the ESM spitfire.....and I have a ton of ESM planes and love them. This HK spitfire is far and away the best arf of a 50cc spitfire on the market or one coming(ie the TF).

If you dont like it, then dont buy it.

02-11-2013, 02:17 PM

kahloq

1 Attachment(s)

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Kockj...the retract rail mounts looked pretty strong to me. Suppose it wouldnt hurt to add more beefyiness in there if one wanted or extra glue(always a good idea)....but the thickness of the rails were good....and attached to some decent ribs.

These pics were posted on the rcgroups thread on this plane...some taken by me, some by the author. Hope they help

02-11-2013, 05:07 PM

91zulu

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Quote:

ORIGINAL: rcsportflyer26

Don't forget you get what you pay for. I honestly doubt the HK can come close to TF in quality. Apples to oranges for sure.

LOL... you still believe in that nonsense. Are you saying there is no way something could be reasonable priced and be of good quality? Is it everything of so call good quality has to be out outrageously priced? Be careful how you answer now because I have lots of proof of cheap stuff that are of high quality and overly prices that is garbage.

02-11-2013, 06:12 PM

LDM

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

zulu , great point , my list supporting your comments is too long to list .Half the added cost of the so called brands is in the cost so the US distributor can offer a warranty in addition to the middle man markup . Like it or not our hobby is 95% manufactured overseas , and typicaly withen the same few city blocks by the same suppliers making differant brands .
All you need is the cash for the MOQ (minium order quanity) .
Anyway enought on the lession from China , the HK planes are excellant quality , the glass is not the cheaper version seen on the early CMP planes , its the better thicker skin typicaly of the higher end birds . I was able to see one at the show in Germany, really impressed with the quality .

02-11-2013, 07:06 PM

rcsportflyer26

RE: HobbyKing 50cc Warbirds

Hey guess what, go **** yourself. Obviously it is my choice whether or not to buy buy it you jackass. With that being said, if you don't like my comments then don't read them.